Around 150 trees could be removed from an area in south Douglas if plans to build 12 new homes are approved.

Property developer Hartford Homes submitted the application (20/01531/B) to construct the houses in the Farmhill area, a site (next to Bix House) which was identified in both the Douglas Local Plan and the Area Plan for the East.

Constituency MHK Paul Quine believes that would decimate the region’s ecology.

He said: ’When the matter came to public notice there were a lot of people in Farmhill and in Saddlestone who were quite vociferously opposed to it.’

’The planning application, if it was to go ahead, would see the destruction of a copse of approximately 150 mature trees and therefore decimate the ecology of the local area.’

When it was pointed out that such trade-offs had to be made, i.e. removing trees in order to build residential homes, Mr Quine responded: ’When I was growing up in the area, that whole area was woodland and marshlands.

’In fact, it was a popular habitat for herons - that’s where the pub in Anagh Coar gets its name.

’But to be truthful that is the last proper piece of woodland left in the area, and should we lose that, we’ve lost it forever.

’And [then] the link through from Farmhill to Saddlestone will be complete, so the whole area will be under concrete sadly.’

Asked where housing ranked on his list of priorities as an election candidate (having already declared he will stand again in September’s general election), Mr Quine answered: ’Housing’s going to be very important.

’We need to address the housing issue for our people - certainly for younger people wanting to get onto the property ladder, and from people wanting to move from first to second houses.

’But common sense has to prevail.

’There’s plenty of area zoned under the Eastern Area Plan for development, and we should look at developing on that.

’With a proper housing strategy it can be achievable and the best outcome for all can be worked for.’